The Memphis appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1886-1890, 1887-12-29

larly desire knowledge. At present little
is known about the amount OF their capital
stock, their funded debt or the money in
vested in their plant or business; the vol
ume Of their business, with the expense
thereof; the rates charged and the methods
upon which the rates are constructed. The
capitalization Of some of the companies is
known to be quite large, amounting to
many millions of dollars in each case. The
difficulty OF framing schedules for the in
formation OF the public is not found TO be
greater than in the case OF railroad COM
panies, which have complied with the act.
Three express companies have SO complied
and their schedules have been placed on
file. The agents OF all express companies
are necessarily instructed us 10 the charges
to be made, and the public is equally in
tclligent The bringing OF express COM
panies within the provisions of the act is
found TO he practicable and on some ac-
counts desirable. The express companies,
which are simply branches OF a railroad,
organized and operated through its ordi-
nary staff or by an independent bureau or
by a combination with other railroad
companies, are found to be covered
by the provisions of the act. In the case
OF the independently organized express
companies, however, operating under con-
tracts for transportation, the language OF
the act, as IL now stands, is found 10 be so
framed rs not TO bring them distinctly
within Its provisions. The words wholly
by railroad" in the first section, do not
well define the business OF express COM
panies, which use very largely the services
OF teams, messengers, stage coaches and
steamboats,. The pooling section applies
to the pooling ol the business Of railroads;
other sections speak OF railroads continu.
ally, and OF dcpots and stations, the Ian
guage not being applicable to the business
OF express companies except under some
what strained construction. The express
business was well known at the time OF
the passage OF the law, and has been fire.
Guently mentioned by name in congress
sional statutes The omission TO name il
here is significant. The preliminary in
yestigation by the interstate commerce
committee OF the Senate did not include
the business OF express companies, and
was confined almost wholly TO that OF rail-
road companies. Upon all these consid-
crtions the commission has thought best
TO refer the subject TO Congress, as in any
case Of doubtful jurisdiction il is far better
that the legislative body should resolve
the doubt.
CuILDRES's DAY.
A feature Of the Christmas festivities in
this city, Tor the past four years, has been
the dinner given 10 the poor children OF
the District, by the Chillrcn's Christmas
club of Washington. Miss Nellie Arthur
was the first president OF the club, and
Miss Mollic Villas, daughter OF the Post
master-Genoral, now prcsides over II. To-
day the fifth annual Christmas club dinner
was given, and over 1000 little ones were
entertained and fed For convenience,
the city was divided into three districts
east, central and west Washington--an
tables were laid in n large hall in each dis
trict. A fourth dinner was given for the
benefit OF colorcd children. At the Ma
tional rifles armory $50 were made happy
with a fine dinner and presents. Mrs.
Cleveland, accompanied by DIR. Ward, OF
Albany, visited the armory just before the
children marched down 10 dinner, aud re-
maincd until the repast was over At Odd
Fellows hall, East Washington, GOO more
| little ones were looked after, and Us many
moro nj the Curtis school building In West
Washington. The colorcd Christmas club
entertained about 800 children at the Met
ropolilan A. NJ. T.. church. The menu
was the same US that at the other dinners,
and consisted Of turkey, ham, roast beef,
fruit, ice cream, cakes, candies and other
dclicacios. The walters were forty school
teachers aud about sixty pupils in all
yanccd gradcsoi the colorcd public schools
snnisaI .afas